Cenote 25 km northeast of Espita
A deep, open cenote in landscaped grounds just outside Tizimín, with a restaurant; life jackets are required to swim.
Cenote Kikil is a large open cenote in the hamlet of Kikil, about 6 kilometers northwest of Tizimín. It sits at the bottom of a wide hollow ringed by trees and rock, with a surface around 35 meters across, and it is deep: soundings put it at about 55 meters, so the water shades from turquoise near the edges to dark blue in the middle.
The local community has developed it as a tourist stop with landscaped gardens, palapas for shade, changing rooms and a restaurant that serves Yucatecan food and breakfast for early arrivals, which makes it a comfortable place to spend a few hours. Stairs lead down to a platform where you enter the water, and life jackets are mandatory for swimming.
Kikil is also a historic place: in the village stand the vine-covered ruins of a Franciscan convent founded in 1576 and its church, used for nearly three centuries until the Caste War of 1847. The cenote sees far fewer visitors than those around Valladolid, and on weekdays you may have it mostly to yourself.
What to see and do
Swim in the deep, open cenote with a life jacket.
Have breakfast or lunch at the restaurant overlooking the gardens.
Rest in the shade of the palapas between swims.
Walk to the ruins of the 16th-century Franciscan convent in the village.
Getting there
From Espita, drive about 25 minutes east to Tizimín and then a few minutes northwest to Kikil, following the signs to the cenote. It is usually open daily from morning to late afternoon; check before going on holidays.
25 km northeast of Espita
Directions from Espita on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Cenote Kikil
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Tours & activities
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Weather warm
Cenote Kikil shares the climate of Espita, 25 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec.
Make Espita your base
Cenote Kikil is an easy trip from Espita, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Espita
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Tizimín
· Town · 21 km away
The cattle town of eastern Yucatán, famous for the Three Kings pilgrimage and fair every January. -
Ek' Balam
· Archaeological site · 22 km away
A walled Maya city with a huge acropolis and remarkably preserved stucco, under an hour south of Espita. -
San Felipe
· Town · 62 km away
A tidy fishing port west of Río Lagartos with brightly painted wooden houses and boats out to quiet beaches. -
Río Lagartos
· Nature reserve · 67 km away
A fishing village on a long coastal lagoon where boat tours go out to see flamingos, crocodiles and herons. -
Las Coloradas
· Nature reserve · 74 km away
Shallow salt-works lagoons that turn bright pink, east of Río Lagartos; visits are guided and swimming is not allowed.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.